diet and dentition Vertabrates

Teeth

Involved in ingestion and mechanical digestion of food

Homodont

All teeth have the same shape

Found in almost all non-mammal groups and few mammals

Found in animals with varied diets, but shape of teeth are related to diet

Heterodont

Animal has different shaped teeth

Found in manny mammals

Usually specialized for their películas diet

Four types of teeth in heterodont

Incisors, canines, premolars, and molars

Herbivores

Animals that eat only plants

Prominent incisors for clipping plants

Ridged molars and premolars for grinding plants

Carnivores

Animals that eat meat

Smaller incisors, conical canines for killing and moving prey

Carnassial (special premolars) that are narrow and sharp for slicing muscle

Molars reduced or absent

Omnivores

Animals that eat plants and animals

Have characteristics from carnivores and herbivores

Only omnivores have both carnassial premolars and broad ridged molars

Enamel

Highly mineralized substance

Thin hard but brittle layer surrounding tooth

Dentin

Thick layer under enamel, acts as support

Less mineralized, not as hard as enamel , but less brittle

Dental pulp

In the middle of tooth

Composed of connective tissue, blood vessels, and nerves